Control apparatus



L. G. RILEY.

CONTROL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I5. 1917.

Patented Dec. 27, .1921;

2 SHEETS-4M I. V

l Ai'roRNEY APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15, 1917.

. Patented Dec. 27, 1921. l I 2 SHETS-SHEEI 2. Q m-- 19 L. G. RILEY.

CONTROL APPARATUS.

7i'o/lqy A Ground INVENTQR WITNESSES: 9 I

, A m? Ci 7?//@ j ATTbRNEY UNITED STATES PATENT orricE.

LYNN G. RILEY, or WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUrAcrUnrNe COMPANY, A CORPORATION or PENNSYLVANIA.

CONTROL APPARATUS.

Application filed June 15,

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, LYNN G. RILEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of lVilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Control Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. 7

My invention relates to control apparatus and especially to motor-reversing switches of the power-operated drum type. One object of my invention is to provide a power-operated mechanism for a rotatable motor-reversing drum, whereby the. drum may be moved in a step-by-step manner in the same direction to reverse the motor connections with each step.

More specifically stated, it is an object of my invention to provide an electrically-controlled fiuid-pressure-operated device for actuating the abovamentioned drum in the same direction through a plurality of positions to alternately 7 effect forward and reverse?connections of the governed motor, the energization of the electrically controlled device being dependent upon the drum position.

Another object of my invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive and compact motor-reversing device, wherein a single powenactuated engine is employed in lieu of the doubly-acting power devices of the prior art. I

My invention may best be understoodby reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view, in side elevation, with parts broken away, of a motor-reversing device constructed in accordance with i my present invention; Fig. 2 is a view,

chiefly in end elevation but partially in section,of the apparatus shown in'Fig. 1; and

Fi 3 is a dia rammatic'view of a control system illustrating the preferred use of the invention in connection'with the reversal of an electric motor.

Referring to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 of the drawings, the apparatus shown comprises a rotatable drum member 1 having a maincircuit portion 2 and an auxiliary-circuit portion .3 for purposes to be subsequently set forth, both portions being concentrically mounted upon an operating shaft 4,5111 electrically controlled, fiuid-pressure-'operated actuating device 6'for the rotatable drum 1, andpower-transmitting means 7 interposed Specification of Letters Patent. v Patent d D 27 192 1917. Serial No. 174,918.

between the drum 1 and the actuating device 6.

The main-circuit portion 2 of the drum embodies a plurality of sets of main-circuit contact strips or segments 10 of familiar configurations for suitably engaging a plurality of main control fingers 11, which are mounted upon a stationary finger-base 12 that extends along one side of the drum, in accordance with the usual construction. The circuit connections of the contact segments 10 and the control fingers 11 will be subsequently set fortn in detail, in connection with the description of Fig. 3.

The auxiliary-circuit drum portion 3 caries a plurality of suitably shaped auxiliarycircuit contact plates or segments 13 and a plurality of cooperating stationary control fingers 14 which may also be mounted upon the finger-base 1:2. The auxiliary contact members 13 and 14- are employed for the purposes of controlling the energization of the actuating device 6 and also of a line switch for the motor to be-govcrned, as hereinafter fully described in connection with F ig. 3.

If desired, a handle member 15 may be detachably secured to one end of the drum shaft l to permit manual operation of the reverser.

The power-transmitting means 7, in gencrahcomprises a notched disk or ratchet member and a cooperating pawl or arm 21 that is actuated by the fluid-pressureoperated device 6 in a manner to be described.

The device 6 comprises an operating cash orcylinder 9.5, within which a piston 26, having a rod or stem 27 pivotally associated with the pawl 21, is adapted to travel, being biased to the illustrated lower position through the agency of a coil spring 28 that is located within the cylinder 25. Fluid pressure from any suitable source (not shown), upon the actuation of a controlling valve device 29, is permitted to flow to the lower end of the cylinder 25 to effect an upward actuation of the piston 26 in opposo;

IOHtO the pressure of the biasing spring 28 The controlling valve device 29 1S preferably of a familiar electrically-controlled type having duplex actuating coils 33f and 332" see F1 3 that are )IOVlClQCl with suitable terminals 31. The two actuating cells may be arranged, in any suitable manner,

mounted in the respectively illustrated posi-" tions upon a common base .32, whereby a relatively compact and neatstructure, which is, nevertheless, readily accessible for inspection and maintenance, is provided. Inasmuch as the particular type of valve proper that is utilized for supplying fluid pressure 'to the operating cylinder 25, upon the energization of either actuating coil, is immate rial to my present invention, any well-known form @r plug valve may be employed, and I have not deemed it necessary to illustrate or describe the valve in further detail.

The ratchet member 20 is provided with a plurality of teeth 35, the distance between successive teeth corresponding to the circumferential distance apart of the operating positions of the motor-reversing drum 1, as

diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 3. r The pawl 21 is provided with a suitable notching tip 36 and is pivotally mounted at 37, near the upper end or' the piston stem 27 and externally to the operating cylinder 25. For the purpose of permitting the necessary play or lost-motion of the cooperating parts, while still insuring that the pawl 21 will always engage the proper tooth of theratchet member, a suitably bent wire-spring 38 is secured to the piston stem 27 and bears againstthe pawl 21, which thushas a resilient oscillatory movement about the pivotal point 37. I V

Only a brief description of the operation of the apparatus just described will be necessary. Assuming that the various parts of the apparatus occupy the respectively illustrated positions, upon energization of the actuating coil or 331'. for the controlling valve device 29,1luid pressure is admitted beneath the piston 26, which is thereupon upwardly actuated, in opposition to the pressure of the coil spring 28, to cause the tip 36 of the pawl 21 to engage the adjacent ratchet 'tcoth35 and move the drum 1 to the next operative position, whereupon the active coil of the controlling valve device 29 may be de energized and is, in fact, deenergized as soon as the drum reaches the desired position, to permit the coil spring 28 to-retract the piston 26 and the pawl 21 to the illustrat'ed'position in readiness for the nextadvancing movement thereof. V

' lVithout the necessity of detailed illustration or description, it will be understood that] preferably a position --accentuating mechanism of the familiar star-wheel type is utilized in connection with the present invention to further insure that the drum is al ways actuated to the exact position desired, whereby burning and pitting of contact members is obviated.

The cylinder 25 Reference may now be had to Fig. 3, wherein the system shown comprises a supply circuit having conductors Trolley and Ground, an electric motor having an armature A1 and a field winding F1 of the series type; an electrically-controlled line switch LS for connecting the motor to the supply circuit; the motor-reversing drum 1 and an auxiliary manually actuated masterreverser 39 which primarily governs the op eration of the system by completing certai circuits to be described, in conjunction with a suitable source of auxiliary energy, such as a battery B.

It will be understood that the number of required sets of main-circuit contact segments 10 and auxiliary-circuit contact segments 13, in order to permit thedesired actuation of the drum 1 in the same direction through a plurality of equally spaced operative positions, will depend upon the necessary distance between adjacent contact segments and upon the diameter of the drum. The number of positions chosen will, ot course, corespond to the number of ratchet teeth 35. Consequently, it will be appreciated that my present invention is notlim ited, ,in its application, to the use of any particular number of operative positions or sets of contact members. 7

Assuming that the motor-reversing drum 1 occupies the illustrated position and that the master reverser 39 is actuated to its forward position marked Fora, an auxiliary circuit is completed from the positive terminal of the battery B through conductor 40, control fingers 41 and 42, which are bridged by contact segment 43 of the master reverser, conductor 44, certain combinations of the main-circuit contact'segments -18 and cooperating control fingers 14, conductor 45,

actuating coil 46 for the line switch LS and a conductors 47 and 48 to the negative battery terminal. 7 I H The main-motor circuit is. thus completed from the trolley through conductor 50, the cooperating contact members 51 of the closed line switch LS, conductor 52, armature A1, conductor 53, certain combinations ci the main-circuit contact segments 10a11d cooperating'control fingers 11, conductor field winding F 1, conductor 55, another combination'of contact members 10 and 11, and conductor 56 to the negative supplvcircuit conductor Ground, I

Assuming that the circuit connections are initially as shown and that itis desired to reversethe' motor connections, the master reverser 39 is thrown to its reverse position marked. Rev.. whereby. a circuit is established from the positive battery conductor 40, through control fingers 41 and 60 whichare bridged by contact segment 61 or the master reverser, conductor 62, a certain combination of auxiliary" contact segments 13 and control fingers 14, conductor 63, the actuating coil 33?" of the controlling valve device 29 and conductor 48 to the negative battery terminal. The fluid-pressure-operated device 6 is thereupon actuated in the previously described manner to move the drum l'to the next operative position marked Rev, whereupon the energizing circuit of the actuating coil 33 1S'111t811L1Pt6Cl.

In-the new position, connection is established, through certain of the auxiliary contact members 13 and 14, between the conductors 62 and 45, whereby the line switch LS is energized and closed, as already set forth. By reason of the familiar arrangement of main-circuit contactrmembers 10, the actuation of the drum 1 to the new posi-' tion serves to reverse the electrical relations of the armature A1 and'the field winding F 1, since conductors 53 and 55 are directly joined and conductors 54 and 56 are directly connected through the cooperating contact members 10 and 11..

lVhen the drum 1 occupies its reverse position and the master reverser 39 is moved to its forward position, a connection through the auxiliary-circuit cooperating contact membersl3 and 14 joins conductors 4A and 65, whence circuit is completed through the actuating coil 33f of the drum 1 to the'negative conductor 48.

The drum is thus actuated to its Fforward position, whereupon the circuit of the coil 337 is interrupte The necessity for the two actuating coils 33f and 331 arises from the fact that otherwise reliable multiple-unit or train operation of a plurality of vehicles embodying my motor-reversing drums would not obtain. A single coil is satisfactory where no multiple-unit operation is intended, but .When a train of vehicles is governed from a single master controller and a single mas ter revers'er, as is customary, a set of .backstair c1rcu1tsor undesirable and unintentional connections are set up. between the actuating-coil-governing contact members on difi'erent vehicles that are coupled together while their motor-reversing drums occupy opposite or non-corresponding positions.

More specifically stated, the energization of one fluid-pressure-operated device 6, if

a single actuating coil were used, would not be completed before an unintentional energization of the corresponding device on the.

other vehicle in question through the usual train-line conductors would cause the actureverse operation of the motor, the abovementioned difiiculty is entirely obviated and reliable multiple-unit operation may be effected. I

lVithout further description, it will be understood that suitable manipulation of the master .reverser 39, when the motor-reversing drum 1 occupies a non-corresponding position, will cause the fluid-pressure-operated device 6 to be actuated to effect a successive advancing and retracting movement of the pawl 21, whereby the ratchet member 20 and the drum 1 are always moved in the same direction through a plurality of positions, each of which reverses the motor connections with respect to the next previous position.

I do not wish to be restricted to the spe cific structural details and arrangement of parts herein set forth, as various modifications thereof may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I desire, therefore, that only such limitationsshall be imposed as are indicated in'the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a rotatable motor-reversing drum, of a fluid-pressureoperated device for actuating said drum in a step-by-step manner in the. same direction to reverse the motor connections with each step, controlling means for said device, and means dependent upon the position of said drum for governing said controlling means.

2. The combination with a rotatable motor-reversing drum, of a fluid-pressure- 3. The combination with a rotatable motor-reversing drum, of a. fluid-pressureoperated device for actuating said drum in a step-by-step manner in the same direction to reverse the motor connections with each step, and an electricallygoverned controlling valve for said device, said valve being energized through contact members upon said drum. 7

4. The combination with a rotatable motor-reversing drum, of a fluid-pressure device embodying a piston member advanced by fluid pressure from a normal biased position to actuate said drum in the same direction through a plurality of operative positions to alternately effect forward and reverse connections of the governed motor, controlling means for said device, and means dependent upon the position of said drum for governing said controlling means.

5. The combination with a. rotatable motor-reversing drum, of a fluid-pressure device embodying a piston member advanced by fluid pressure from a normal biased posi tion to actuate said drum in the same direction through a plurality of operative positions to alternately 'efiect forward and reverse connections of the 'governedmotor, and a controlling valve for said device dependent for actuation upon the position of said drum. r 6. The combination with a rotatable motor-reversing drum,:'o-f a fluid-pressure device embodying a piston member advanced by fluid pressure from a normal biased position to actuate said drum inthe same'direction through a plurality of operative positions to alternately eflect forward and reverse connections or the 'goverened Inotor, and an electrically-governed controlling valve for said device, saidvalve being energized through contact members upon said drum.

T. The combination with a rotatable drum having a plurality ofsuccessivelv arranged sets of main contact members for motor-reversing purposes, of a ratchet meniber secured to said drum, afiuid-pressure device embodying a piston member advanced by fluid pressureirom a normal biased position to engage said ratchet and actuate said drum in thesame' direction through a plurality of positions corresponding to said sets of contact members, and a controlling valve for said device having an actuating coil, said drum being also provided Wit l a plurality of successively arranged sets of auxiliary contact members forv completing the circuit of said coil under predetermined conditions to eiiect movement of said drum.

8. The combination with a rotatable motor-reversing drum, of single power means 7 having a plurality of actuatingcoils i'or actuating said drum in the same direction through a plurality of positions to alter-.

nections of the'governed motor, said actuating coils being alternately coimected in operative relation tosaid power means. i

9. The combination motor-reversing drum, of a fluid-pressureoperated device having a plurality of alternately-employed coils for actuating said drum in a step-by-step manner in the same direction to reverse the motor connections with each step. 7 i

'10. The combination with a rota-table motor-reversing drum, of a fluid-pressureoperated device for actuating-said drum in a step-bystep manner in the same direction to reverse the motor connections with each step, and a controlling valve for said device having a'plurality' of actuating coils, said coils being alternately energized through contact members upon said drum.

With a rotatable 11. The combination with a rotatable i rality oi positions corresponding to said sets of contact members, and a controlling valve for said devicehavlng a plinality ofact -V i'ting coils, said drum being also provided 'itha plurality of successively arranged ets of auxiliary contactr members for alterdrum in the same direction through a plu nately completing the circuits of saidcoils to effect step-by-step movement of said drum. i in testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name- 29th -day of May, 1917. V r I YNN. G; RILEY; i 

